Hay-rack construction.



PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903. H. L. PERRIS;

HAY RACK consmucnon.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB 2, 1903.

I0 MODEL.

lINrTED STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

PATENT Orrrcn.

HENRY L. FERRIS, OF HARVARD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO IIUNT, HELM, FERRIS & COMPANY, OF, HARVARD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

HAY-RACK CONSTRUCTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731,351, dated June 16, 1903.

Application filed February 2, 1908. Serial No. 141,556. (No model.)

T at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY L. FERRIs, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Harvard, in the county of McHenry and State of Illinois, have invented certainv new and useful Improvements in Hay-Rack Constructions, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hay-rack construclions. Its object is to produce a hay-rack which while as strong in every way and as serviceable as other devices will be easier to put together, and therefore cheaper to construct.

To this end my invention consists in certain novel features, which are clearly shown in the accompanying drawings and described in this specification.

In the aforesaid drawings, Figure l is a per-' spective of the hay-rack embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section in the line 2 2 of Fig. 3, showing the means for securing the members of the rack together; and Fig. 3 is a section in the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings,-A represents the four fiat transverse horizontal members, such as are usually found in hay-.racks. Upon these four members A are two horizontal longitudinal stringers B on opposite sides of the rack: Upon the top of the stringers B are four other transverse cross-pieces O of greater length than the pieces A, to which members are secured the longitudinal boards D, constituting the top of the rack. The. stringers B and top members O are placed on edge. Upon the boards D are the ordinary wheelguards E. This much of the construction is the ordinaryconstruction of any hay-rack. The features which differentiate my rack from the racks heretofore in use lie in the means which secure the various members thereof together.

Each of the members O is surrounded by four rectangular straps F, one on each side of and adjacent to each of the stringers B. The lower parts of the straps F are prolonged downward to form projections j", which are plates 6, each of which is provided with two perforations to serve as a washer for the two similar bolts and is secured in place by a nut g. This method of securing the members together is exceedingly simple and strong and very cheap. It has heretofore been customary to secure the parts together by bolts passing through holes bored through the members A, B, and C. It is very difficult to bore these long holes, as the total thickness of the three pieces is about sixteen inches. Sucha method of construction, therefore, makes the device when so secured together unnecessarily expensive. It is obvious that a great saving in cost is effected by my improved device.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination with the flat lower transverse members, the longitudinal stringers laid on edge, and the upper transverse members also laid on edge, of straps surrounding said upper transverse members adjacent to the stringers, the straps being so bent as to form downwardly-projecting portions, said portions being suitably perforated, eyebolts passing through said perforations, said bolts being passed, at their opposite ends through suitable perforations in the lower transverse members, and suitable nuts upon the lower ends of said bolts adapted to hold the parts firmly together, substantia ly as described.

2. The combination with the flat lower transverse members, the longitudinal stringers laid on edge, and the upper transverse members also laid on edge, of straps surrounding said upper transverse members adjacent to the stringers, the straps being so bent. as to form downwardly-projecting portions, said portions being suitably perforated, eyebolts passing through said perforations, said bolts being passed, at their opposite ends, through suitable perforations in the lower transverse members, suitable plates of metal below said 1ower transverse members provided with two the county of McHenry and State of Illinois, perforations, and surrounding two adjacent I this 12th day of January, A. D. 1903.

bolts, and suitable nuts upon the lower ends of said bolts adapted to hold the parts firmly HENRY FERRIS' 5 together. Witnesses:

In witness whereof I have signed the above BLAKE B. BELL,

application for Letters Patent, at Harvard, in E. B. HUNT. 

